5 MUST » SEE, DO
» SAN FRANCISCO TOP SIGHTS Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown offer even more reasons to visit. Along the pedestrian-friendly wharf visitors now can buy fish straight from the boats. The Cartoon Art Museum lies just east of the re-invigorated Ghirardelli Square, home to the San Francisco Brewing Co. and its beer garden. Meanwhile, on the North Beach edge of nearby Chinatown, the China Live complex offers an amazing variety of Chinese food choices. › sftravel.com
» EAST BAY EXPLORATION Oakland’s lively Uptown, Temescal and Piedmont Avenue neighborhoods are filled with excellent restaurants, including Commis, Flora and Duende. The neighboring university town of Berkeley also offers much to discover, including the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. The outdoors beckons at 2,000-acre Tilden Park, which has a lovely botanical garden and steam train that children adore. › visitberkeley.com
» SONOMA SOJOURN Sonoma County’s vineyard-covered landscape features dozens of renowned wineries. In the Russian River Valley appellation, visitors stroll among the shops of Sebastopol, Graton and Forestville and pick up picnic goodies for alfresco dining while sampling the county’s famous Pinot Noirs and other varietals. › sonomacounty.com
» ICONIC HIGH TECH Silicon Valley giants open parts of their headquarters to visitors. Intel offers a Tech Museum and Apple’s futuristic campus includes a glass-walled visitor center. Facebook’s Menlo Park campus hosts a Saturday farmers market and features a thumbs-up (“like”) sign at 1 Hacker Way, a popular spot for selfies. Grab a bite along nearby Palo Alto’s University Avenue where Silicon Valley’s elite dine. › smccvb.com, santaclara.org
» EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS Mount Tamalpais and the coast of Marin County just north of the Golden Gate Bridge are a spectacular playground for hikers, bikers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Mount Tam affords stunning views and Muir Woods National Monument on its western flank wows visitors with its towering redwood grove. Oceanfront towns Stinson Beach and Bolinas have a laid-back vibe that is part of their charm. › visitmarin.org